Manually operated wire stitching machine



Nov. 24;"1953 Filed Aug. 28, 1951 w. KIRBY 2,659,885

MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITCHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet l Z/VEIVIO/G Mm; Ag/ia/ aw f4 v C? Nov. 24, 1953 w. KlRBY MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITCHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28 1951 flit/V794, 4 Fm! [7424/ Zia W v Nov. 24, 1953 w, KlRBY 2,659,885

MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITCHING MACHINE 7 Filed Aug, 28, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 NOV. 24, 1953 w, KlRBY 2,659,885

MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 EGG 67 E -1 ""8 40/3; gin I i zlrzlvrwc. I: ML/185$ fllcdy Y Z WW, u,i

' NOV. 24, 1953' w, KlRBY 2,659,885

MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITC HING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 z/T re/vranz.

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Nov. 24, 1953 w. KIRBY I 2,659,885

MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 24, 1953 w KlRBY 2,659,885 MANUALLY OPERATED WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 24, 1953 MANUALQY OPERA? MAOHIN Wilma Kirby, iLcndo iildniis sssisimi t Vickem -Axm tmnss ed, li ndonyEii lsnd,

Brit sh com any Application August as, 195 1, -seris1 1-m. 24,c59

Gfldinis iix' ori msp tim smashes Au ust 30, 1959 12 Cfi ms- 2) This invention relates to manually operated w r ch g ma hines.

i ..e-p ser1t s ecifi ati naand inlthe append.- d claims h WQrsis .mamially :ODC-la fi', Or eguival'ent expressions, are to be taken as cover-- in opera ion by hand O pyfoot.

i ob ect O e esent inventiq is t precle a ma ly pe ated wire stit hing machine ,of generally improved ,con'structior'i, whereby the disadvantages of the known arran em ts re avoided r m nimised.

T nve t on cons sts broa ly f a manually qpemteq wire stitching'machine, cczlnprising pa'm mews having Gain surfaces {orv actuating a staple preparing mechanism adaptegi to feed wire and sm ths-sam pr d a, staple blank, said cam me s, also having cam surfaces ,f or actuating a forming and driving mechanism adapted to iorm a prepared blank into a staple and to drive the atte into wo k an {furt r q p n l a lever; arranged to be rocked by foot or by hand, s ch ro ing moti n of sa d lever being, imparted 11 said cam means to produce ccrresponding an ula s ll n her of, a sin l QOmPlete .0S- dil ti n of. d am m ans causing simu ta= news act on .01 b th said blank prepa in mechan m and saidforming and drivin mech: anis whereby a simple is formed and driven :into the work whilst a furthey blankispl epared for iqrm n a v n during the n xt su ceed g c ete oscillat on 9f the amsmeans.

a, b t er underst niiing oi the invention andwtq show shew it maybe ca ried int @fi ct, the same w now be describedihy ay ex pi with re rence to t e acc mpan in drawin s, which: i i .1 i y Fi ure a psx zl .i iib elevation CI. ajfob Qp ataw ti ch' g mac n cording to the invention. v. we 1 Figure 2 is a ide elevation acc rdin ure! v i jfisu qfi is deiaiiview awn; tbs le 1: s'cal than Figures 1 and 2) 5mm; e15; vsiaiqnpi ,ihestitcbiiis l1? c1; M c c Figure 2, elevatigni pass in .sesiiiinc 51mg the line Iy-Jvnr Figure 3,

-' the Ddail 9.

' ,Figure 11 isa partialhcrizqntal sect-401g "metre *5 is "s ie siinilgr to that Shawn in Fi ur b t wit the various rts sh nzii theigf position-at a'difierent stage the stitching 5 5;18-

Figure 6 s a side eievation partlir in sct isn 2 Hprovidedgwithhousings 3'and'4 far tne rmfit and rear bearings cf adrive-shatft 5. The 'hdiismg 3 carries a back-platefi of the stitching hesid to which isise ured a o n P t 6 i 'Whi a s 'qgple forming element Ijand a stable d'z iyiiig element 8 reciprocate along acommon vertical axis (Figure 1) Inthe example givemfthe drive shalt 5 .extendsffrojm the stitching head'igq the rear of the machine and the exis brine shaft i sub antialllyinormal to the plate in which .wite

staples g'reiormed and, driven into the'wor k'i i ShQWn infli'gu rerl, the axis 0 15 the drive-shaft 5 isialso. located. above, and laterally eff-set w t respect flop, the paths qlf mqtion of the staple forming and driving elemnts.

.xtenglingctmnsversely or the machine 'fz aifi A t the res:- g't th machine, were isprovide'd' a 5115* ntieil mbunte'a upbfl a pm H deified by a crank l5 se' cured to the rear end of the drive-shaft 5. An adjustable abutment, consisting of a collar 16 having a fixing screw H, is mounted on the connecting rod 1 l to provide an operative connection between the rod and the anvil clinching mechanism of the machine, indicated generally at I8. Both the clinching mechanism I 8, and the adjustable table l9 upon which the work can be supported, are, in themselves, well known in wire stitching machines, and further description thereof is unnecessary.

As shown more particularly in Figures 9 and 10, a cam plate 20 is eccentrically mounted upon the forward" end of the drive-shaft located within the stitching head. Two cam grooves 21 and 22 are formed in one face of the cam plate driver and former have almost reached their upper dead centres.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, and Figure 10, the latch mechanism comprises a vertical latchbar 42 slidably mounted in a vertical guideway formed in the cover-plate 38 and maintained in position by a plate 43 screwed to the cover-plate. The latch-bar is formed at its lower end with an extension 44 which, when the bar is in its lowermost position, is adapted to engage behind shoulder 45 on the forming anvil 49 (Figure 8), to hold the latter in an outer, or Wire feeding, position. The upper end of the latch-bar is bent over to form a flange 45 which extends through a slot 4? in the cover-plate, into the stitching head, the flange 46 being engageable by the upper end of the staple driver 8, as the latter approaches its top-dead-centre. The latch-bar is urged downwardly by a compression spring 48 arranged between the flange 46 and a fixed pin 49 in the cover-plate.

is engaged by a follower rotatably mounted upon a pin 26 secured to the staple driver 8. The

cam plate as is also formed, on the same side of the centre of motion as the arc-shaped cam grooves, with a lower cam periphery 21 arranged to engage a follower 28 (see Figure 8) rotatably mounted in a block ZS-which carries wire cut off mechanism as hereinafter described. 7

feed lever 34 pivotally mounted at 35 in the backplate 6 of the stitching head. A spring 35, arranged between an upward extension 31 of the lever 34 and a fixing screw 38 mounted in the plate 6, is adapted to urge thelever 34 in a clockwise direction so as to maintain the follower 3| in engagement with the associated cam periph-v ery 30. e I

The staple forming and driving elements I and 8, mounted in the stitching head 6a, are enclosed by a cover plate 39, hingedly mounted at mounted on the stitching head. The support Wire stock'is fed to the forming anvil from a spool 50 rotatably mounted upon a support 5| extending upwardly from the stitching head. The wire passes around a lateral guide 52, secured to the lower end of the wire feed lever 34, and then through a slot 53 formed in the lever 34. During the feeding motion of the lever 34, the wire is gripped, in known manner, by a spring loaded gripper 54 pivotally mounted on the lever 34.

The wire stock then passes through a slot 55 formed in the lower end of a support-plate 56 plate 56 carries a spring loaded non-return gripper 5! which is adapted to control the wire which has been fed through a cutting tube 58 secured to the lower part of the support-plate.

, The support-plate has an arm 53 engageable by 39a upon the front of the stitching head 6a. In.

the lower part of the cover plate there is slidably mounted a forming anvil 40 which is urged by a leaf spring 4| from the plane YY (see Figure 4), in which wire is fed to the forming anvil and-cut-olf to form a staple blank w, to the plane ZZ (see Figure 6) in which the staple is formed and driven into the work.

In power driven machines having rotary driving cams, the inward movement of the forming anvil is determined by the return motions of the staple forming and driving elements, these motions being such that the former is retracted in advance of the driver, so that the forming anvil is free to move inwards as soon as the driver withdraws from engagement with the inner end of the forming anvil.

=In the present arrangement, since a reciprocating or rocking motion is imparted to the cam plate 20, the return motions of the staple forming and driving elements, and also of the wire feed and cut-ofi levers, are identical but the reverse of the respective forward motions.

- Latch mechanism is therefore provided to en-, sure that the forming anvil 40 and the wire blank w do not moveforwardly towards: the staple forming position Z.Z until both the staple a projection 60 on the wire feed lever 34, and the said support-plate is adjustably secured to the stitching head by means of a thumb-screw 6| so as to provide for adjustment in the length of wire fed to the forming anvil. A datum-mark BZ'on the support-plate 56, which mark reads against a scale 63 on the front of the stitching head, facilitates the positioning of the plate 55 according to the required length of wire feed.

The cut-off mechanism comprises a knife 64 secured to a forwardly projecting part 65 (see Figure 8) of the block 29, which latter is pivotally connected to the support-plate 56 and is loaded by a spring 66, so that the cam follower 28 on the block 29 is urged upwardly to engage the lower cam periphery 2'! of the cam-plate 20. The knife 64 is arranged to cut off a length of wire fed to the forming anvil, when the follower 28 is depressed by a cam projection 21a on the lower cam periphery 21.

The latch mechanism is operatively connected to the cut-off mechanism by means of a trip device comprising a trip-lever 61, mounted upon a pivot pin 88 secured to the support-plate 55. The lever 6'! carries at its free end a slider 69 adapted to slide along a transverse guide-way 70 formed in the latch-bar 42. The lever 61 also has a nose H adapted to engage an abutment 2'2 on the forward part 65 of the block 29, so as to hold the latch-bar in its elevated position. The part 65 is also provided with a pin '53 engageable with the non-return gripper 5?, to hold the latterout of engagement with the wire during the wire feed motion.

I:n .,order torindicate the functional relationship between the described elements of the stitching accuses mechanism, the .cycle f operations will now :be described from the moment when the parts of the stitching head mechanism are approximately in the position indicated in Figures .3 and and thestaple former-'and-driver areaboutzto descend, to form and drive "a staple into the "work (indicated diagrammatically at W in Figure 6') The wire feed :lever 34 isat,-or near, its fully retracted position, and the lower cam periphery 271 of the cam-plate 2-!) has moved from engagement with the follower 528 so that the block 28 which carries the cut-off knife 64 is elevated and the pin 13., carried by the block 29, is in engagement with the non-return gripper 51. so as to hold the gripper 5'! in an inoperative position. The'forming anvil Ml, carrying a cut-off blankw, is held in the innermost position by the the spring at, so that the blank 10 is located in the staple forming and driving plane. The latch-bar 42 is held in its uppermost position by means of the trip lever 61,.rotation of the latter being prevented by on gagement of the nose H of the trip lever, with the abutment 12 on the block 29.

Following the sequence of events up to this point, the foot pedal 9 is depressed, so that the upright connecting rod H is displaced upwardly causing the crank l5 and the drive-shaft 5 to rock the cam-plate in a clockwise direction. staple former 1., followed. by the driver 8, moves downwards to engage the free ends of the wire blank'w and to form the legs of the staple over the forming anvil Ill]. During this part of the cycle, the latch-bar 42 continues to be held in its elevated position by the trip lever Bl. As the driver moves down, it engages the inner end of the forming anvil and forces the latter outward-1y, into the wire feed position. The cam periphery engages the follower 31' causing the wire teed lever 34 to rock in an anti-clockwise direction so that wire stock is fed through the cutting tube 58 to the forming anvil. the staple former 1! reaches its lower dead centre, the follower 218 of the cut-off mechanism is engaged by the lower cam projection 21a causing the cut -off knife H to move across the end of the tube 58, thereby to cut off, the length of wire fed to the forming anvil. As the cut-off knife is displaced, the pin 13 disengages from the non-return. gripper 5T, permitting the latter to engage andhold the wire stock. The trip lever 6'! is simultaneously also released from engagement with the abutment 12 whereupon the latch-bar 42 moves downwardly, under the action of the spring 48-, so that the extension 44 of the latch-bar engages behind the shoulder 45' of the forming anvil, whereby the forming anvil is held in the retracted, or wire feed, position. The elements are now in the relative positions indicated in Figures 5 and 6. Continued clockwise rotation of the cam-plate it, causes the staple former and driver to move downwards to complete the driving operation and the final clinching of the staple to the work.

Upon release of the actuating pedal, the weight of the connecting bar I l and the associated link age, causes the drive-shaft 5 and the cam-plate 20 to rock in an anti-clockwise direction. Thereupon the staple driver and former move upwardly on their return motion, and the wire feed lever 34 also commences its return motion in a clockwise direction. The return motions of these elements are similar to, but the reverse of, the respective forward motions; thus the staple driver moves upwardly in advance of the staple former. However, the forming anvil is unable to moveinwardly with the cut-off blank. for the reason that position by the: extension: 411 of the. flatchebar; As the driver 8 approaches its upper top-deadcentre it". engages. the flange 416: of. the latch-bar and lifts :thezlatch-bar, therebyfreeing the-form ing anvilzlll: and permitting: the latter; together with. the cut-oft blankgto moves inwards: for the: next; staple; forming and driving cycle Meanwhile; thou-wires feed; lever: 35 has reached; its, fully; retractect positionyin which. the: ection; E8; en. gages; the: arm. 59.: of; the: supporteplate. 5.5;. and. the lower: camperiphery 21 of the cam-plate; has; moved'gfrom engagementrwith; the follower 28 0f; the: cut-off. mechanism. As a: result, the block.

5 29; of. thecut-ofi; mechanismthas Sprung, upwardly under the action of thespring cs, so thatthepirr 'l3- ire-engages. andv holds; the non-return gripper; 5;? in" its; releasedposition: ready for the feeding; of; afresh length. of wire during the: next succeeding, cycle of operations.

It is to be. noted that the crank l5. the conenecting rod H,, and; their associated parts, are. preferably so constructed and arranged as sub stantially to balance; on the onehand', the cam.-

: plate. and on. the; other hand, the operating pedal 9-. In. this manner... them-in-imum of efiort. res quired todepress the pedal in order to.- eifecta staple forming and driving stroke, while astsoon as pressure is released from. the. pedal, the parts will automatically return to. their normal. positions.

Itwil-l be appreciated. that. the pedal arrangement for operation of the. machine by foot, may be replaced by an operating lever arranged for manual operation of, the machine.

The stitching head,v as hereinbefore described, permits a. relatively small. cam-plate to be emplayed and this cam-plate may be secured to the :drive-shaft and completely enclosed within the stitching head, in the manner of a power driven machine. The cam tracks and peripheries for the followers of the: various elements are so dis.- posed about. the centre of motion of the cam plate as to facilitate thev balancing of the. cam. while the cam. paths are shorter, and a more. favorable leverage is obtained than that afiorded by the drive means hitherto employed on manually or foot operated stitching machines. In comthe. arrangement reduces the possibility of wire buckle occurring should any incomplete stroke inadvertently be made.

The. construction enables an operator drive machine to have a similar form and cycle to, and to retain practically all the advantages of, a power drive wire stitching machine.

It is also common practice to form and drive the stitches in a direction at right-angles to that shown in the example given. In this case the housing 6 and all mechanism attached thereto .is disposed parallel to the actuating shaft 5 shown in Figure 2, and a right-angle drive such" as a pair of mitre bevel wheels is introduced between the shaft 5 as shown in Figure 2 and a shaft-5 shown in Figure 9, the latter becoming .a sens rate short stub shaft housed in the framing and carrying cam 20 at the operative end, no part of the invention being thereby affected.

I claim:

1. A manually operated wire stitching machine, comprising a frame, a shaft mounted for rocking motion in said frame, cam means mounted on said shaft, manually operated lever means for rocking said shaft and producing a corresponding angular oscillation of said cam means, staple preparing mechanism for feeding wire stock and for cutting the fed wire to produce a staple blank, staple forming and driving mechanism for forming a prepared blank into a staple and driving the staple into the work, means for delivering a prepared blank to said driving and forming mechanism, cam surfaces on said cam means for causing simultaneous actuation of both said blank preparing mechanism and said forming and driving mechanism during each complete angular oscillation of said cam means, and means for controlling the operation of said delivery means, said controlling means being actuated in timed relationship with said forming and driving mechanism, so that while a staple is formed and driven into the work a further blank is prepared and delivered into position for forming and driving during the next succeeding complete angular oscillation of said cam means.

2. A manually operated wire stitching machine, comprising a frame, a shaft mounted for Y mechanism for causing said member to deliver a prepared blank into the forming and driving position, and cam surfaces on said cam means for causing, during each complete angular oscillation of said cam means, simultaneous actuation of both said blank preparing mechanism and said forming and driving mechanism, so that a staple is formed and driven into the work during each complete angular oscillation of the cam means and a further blank is prepared while delivered into position ready for forming and driving during the next succeeding complete angular oscillation of said cam means.

3. A manually operated wire stitching machine, comprising a, frame, a shaft mounted for rocking motion in said frame, said shaft extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane in which staples are formed and driven into the work, cam means mounted on said shaft for angular oscillating motion in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which staples are formed and driven, manually operated lever means for rocking said shaft and producing a corresponding angular oscillation of said cam means, staple forming and driving elements mounted for reciprocation along a common axis for forming and driving staples into the work, means for feeding wire along a line removed from and parallel to the plane in which staples are formed and driven, a member for supporting the fed wire in the feeding position, means for cutting off the fed wire to produce a staple blank, cam surfaces on said cam means for simultaneously actuating said forming 8 and driving elements, and said wire feeding means and said cut off means, during each complete oscillation of said cam means, and means :actuated in timed relationship with said forming :and driving elements for permitting the wire supporting member to deliver a staple blank into the forming and driving position, so that during each complete oscillation of the cam means a staple .is formed and driven into the work and a further mlank is prepared and delivered into position ready for forming and driving during the next succeeding complete oscillation of the cam means.

4. A manually operated wire stitching machine, comprising a frame, a shaft mounted for rocking :motion in said frame, cam plate eccentrically :mounted on said shaft, manually operated lever :means for rocking said shaft and producing a corresponding angular oscillation of said cam plate, staple forming and driving elements :mounted for reciprocation along a common axis :for forming and driving staples into the work, cam grooves in said cam plate for reciprocating [said elements to form and drive a staple into the work during each complete angular oscillation of :said cam plate, means for feeding wire along a line removed from and parallel to the plane in which stamples are formed and driven. a member displaceable transversely with respect to the forming and driving elements and urged during the forward motion of the driving element into the wire feed position to receive the fed wire, means for cutting off the fed wire to produce a staple blank, cam peripheries on said cam plate for actuating said wire feeding means and said cut-off means during the actuation of said forming and drivin elements, latch mechanism for holding the blank supporting member in the wire feed position during the greater part of the return motion of the driving element. and means for releasing said latch mechanism at the com letion of the return stroke of the driving element to permit said member to deliver a fresh blank into position ready for forming and driving durin the next succeeding complete oscillation of said cam plate.

5. A manually operated wire stitching machine, comprising a frame, a shaft mounted for rocking motion in said frame, a cam plate eccentrically mounted on said shaft, manually operated lever means for rocking said shaft and producing a corresponding angular oscillation of said cam plate, a forming element and a driving element mounted for reciprocation along a common axis, cam surfaces on said cam plate for actuating said forming and driving elements to form and drive a staple into the work during each complete angular oscillation of said cam plate, means for feeding wire stock along a line removed from and parallel to the plane in which staples are formed and driven, a spring urged forming anvil movable transversely with respect to the forming and driving elements, means for holding said anvil in the wire feed position to receive the fed wire during the forward motion of said forming and driving elements, means for cutting a, staple blank from the fed wire, cam surfaces on said cam plate for actuating said wire feed means and said cut-off means to produce a staple blank during the actuation of said forming and driving elements, latch means movable into and out of engagement with said forming anvil, trip means for holding said latch means in inoperative position during the downward motion of said forming element, means operated in timed relationship with said cut-on means for releasing said trip means and permittingsaid latch means to engage and hold the forming anvil in the wire feed position during the reater part of the return motion of said driving element, and means for returning said latch means to inoperative position when said driving elementreac'hes the limit of its return motion to cause said forming anvil to bring the prepared staple blank into position ready for forming and driving during the next succeeding complete cscillation of said cam plate.

6. A manually operated wire stitching machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latch means comprises a latch-bar slidable vertically in the frame constituting the stitching head, spring means acting on the. upper end of the latch-"bar and urging said latch-bar downwardly, an extension at the lower end of said latch-bar engageable with a shoulder on said forming anvil to hold the latter in the wire feed position during the greater part of the return motion of the driving element, and a flanged-part at the upper end of said latch-bar, said flanged part extending into the stitching head and being engageable by the staple driving element at the termination of the return motion of said latter element to lift the latch bar and permit the forming anvil to present a prepared blank into the forming and driving position.

7. A manually operated Wire stitching machine comprising a casing constituting a stitching head, a drive shaft mounted for rocking motion in said casing and disposed substantially normal to the plane in which staples are formed and driven, a cam plate eccentrically mounted on said shaft, manually operated lever means for rocking said shaft and producing a corresponding angular oscillation of said cam plate, a forming element and a driving element mounted for reciprocation along a common axis, cam grooves in said cam plate for actuating said forming and driving elements to form and drive a staple into the work during each complete oscillation of said cam plate, said cam grooves being disposed on that side of the centre of motion of the cam plate which is of greatest radius, means for feeding wire stock along a line removed from and parallel to the plane in which staples are formed and driven, a spring urged forming anvil slidably mounted in the stitching head and displaceable transversely with respect to the forming and driving elements, means for holding said forming anvil in the wire feed position to receive the fed wire, means for cutting the fed wire to produce a staple blank, an upper cam periphery on said cam plate for actuating said wire feed means during the downward motion of the forming and driving elements, a lower cam periphery on said cam plate for actuating said cut-off means during the downward motion of said forming and driving elements, and means for releasing said forming anvil as the driving element reaches the end of its return motion, and causing said anvil to deliver a prepared blank into position for forming and driving during the next succeeding complete oscillation of said cam plate.

8. A manually operated wire stitching machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the drive shaft is mounted in said casing for angular oscillating motion about an axis extending from the stitching head to the rear of the machine, and wherein there is provided at the rear of the machine a vertically displaceable connecting rod, crank means between the upper end of said connecting rod and said drive shaft for imparting angular oscillating motion to said drive shaft by verical reciprocation'ofsaid connecting rod, an operative connection between the lower. end of said connecting rod and the manually operable lever means, said latter means comprising a treadle pivotally mounted at the lower end of the frame, and adjustable abutment means intermediate the ends of said connecting rod for actuating anvil clinching mechanism of the machine.

9-. A manually operated wire stitching machine as claimed in claim 7,- wherein the said outoff means comprises a block pivotally mounted in the stitching head, a cut-off knife mounted on said block, a camv follower on said block, spring means for urging said follower into engagement with the lower cam periphery on said cam plate, said lower cam periphery producing displacement of said block and knife to cut off a staple blank during the downward motion of said forming and driving elements.

10. A manually operated wire stitching machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for cutting-off the fed wire comprises a block pivotally connected to a support plate, adjustably mounted in the stitching head, a cut-off knife secured to said block, a cam follower on said block engageable with the associated cam periphery on said cam plate, spring means for urging said cam follower into engagement with said cam periphery, said cam periphery depressing said block and said knife to cut-01f a staple blank during the downward motion of the staple forming and driving elements.

11. A manually operated wire stitching machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support plate carries means for gripping the wire stock during the return motion of said wire feed means, and wherein there is provided on said pivoted block, a pin engageable with said wire gripping means to hold the latter out of engagement with the wire stock during the feed motion of the wire feed means.

12. A manually operated wire stitching machine comprising a frame, a stitching head on said frame, a drive shaft extending from the stitching head to the rear of said frame, a cam plate fixedly mounted on the forward end of said drive shaft and disposed within the stitching head, manually operated lever means for rocking said shaft and producing a corresponding angular oscillation of said cam plate, staple forming and driving elements mounted in said stitching head for reciprocation along a common axis for forming and driving staples into the work, cam grooves in said cam plate for actuating said forming and driving elements during each complete oscillation of said cam plate, means for feeding wire along a line removed from and parallel to the plane in which staples are formed and driven, an upper cam periphery on said cam plate for operating said wire feed means during the downward motion of said forming and driving elements, a spring urged forming anvil slidable in said stitching head transversely with respect to the forming and driving plane, means for displacing said anvil into the wire feed position to receive the fed wire during the downward motion of said forming and driving elements, a support plate adjustably secured to the stitching head, a block pivotally mounted on said support plate, a cut-off knife carried by said block, a lower cam periphery on said cam plate for tilting said block and said knife to cut-off a staple blank during the downward motion of the staple forming and driving elements, a vertical latch-bar slidably mounted in the stitching head, a trip device engageable'with said block for holding said latch-bar in'an upper position during the downward motion of the forming and driving elements,

means operative upon actuation of said knife to release said trip device and allow said latch-bar to engage andhold said forming anvil and the cut-off blank in the wire feed position, during the greater part of the return motions of the staple forming and driving elements, and means for returning said latch-bar to'its upper position upon completion of the return motions of said elements to enable the forming anvil to present the cutof! blank into position ready for forming and driving during the next succeeding complete oscillation of said cam plate. 1 WILFRED KIRBY.

' References Cited inthe fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 

